Affiliation:
1. Center for Climate Physics Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Busan Republic of Korea
2. Department of Climate System Pusan National University Busan Republic of Korea
3. Pusan National University Busan Republic of Korea
4. International Pacific Research Center University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu HI USA
Abstract
AbstractMost climate models simulate an intensified eastern equatorial Pacific warming in response to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. So far, the proposed mechanisms have focused on thermodynamic aspects such as the spatial inhomogeneity of evaporative feedbacks, and future increases in upper ocean thermal stratification, partly intensified by projected Walker circulation weakening. Here we show, using earth system model freshwater perturbation experiments, that the simulated future rainfall intensification along the equator plays an important role in tropical climate change. Associated negative equatorial salinity anomalies of about −0.6 permil, which are very similar to the projected late 21st century salinity anomalies in CMIP6 SSP585 scenario, strengthen upper ocean stratification in the Pacific which leads to a flattening of the thermocline, shoaling of the equatorial undercurrent, and major shifts in tropical ocean dynamics. The resulting eastern basin equatorial warming also contributes to a marked weakening of the Pacific Walker circulation. Our analysis illustrates the importance of rainfall and salinity changes in the tropical climate system with relevance for understanding both, patterns of future climate change as well as the El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon.
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Subject
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous),General Environmental Science
Cited by
1 articles.
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